Shipping shouldn't be free. It costs money to transport goods. If you're not paying for that cost then at best it's included in the price of the item, but more likely it's a corporate ploy to squeeze out competition or a psychological trick to get you addicted to frivolous spending.
Shipping from China should be way more expensive. It's still defined as a developing country in the UN and gets favorable shipping fees to devekoped countries. I think the fees increased a few years ago, but I believe it's still the case.
Shipping costs are also subsidized by the government.
These days, with shipping costs baked in (which honestly I am fine with, it means I know the total up front), I feel this way about free returns. I rarely ever return anything, because I do a lot of research before I spend money, but I still seem to want that safety net. No idea why, but I'm sure there's some research from product companies about it.
10 Comments
pianoplant@lemmy.world · 34 pts · 132d
Shipping shouldn't be free. It costs money to transport goods. If you're not paying for that cost then at best it's included in the price of the item, but more likely it's a corporate ploy to squeeze out competition or a psychological trick to get you addicted to frivolous spending.
daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 21 pts · 132d
Meanwhile Ebay shipping be like:
Yes, this 5€ product has a 185€ shipping fee, we are dispatching an heritage breed horse with an actual knight rider to deliver it to you apparently.
slazer2au@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 132d
I'm driving across the country myself to give you the package at the very least.
thermal_shock@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 131d
Is the horse fed free range oats though?
wax@feddit.nu · 2 pts · 131d
Shipping from China should be way more expensive. It's still defined as a developing country in the UN and gets favorable shipping fees to devekoped countries. I think the fees increased a few years ago, but I believe it's still the case.
Shipping costs are also subsidized by the government.
thermal_shock@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 131d
Thanks clinton
thermal_shock@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 131d
It's never "free", people just don't like seeing it as a completely new line item. It's always baked in.
Shortstack@reddthat.com · 17 pts · 132d
That's baked in to the cost on Amazon, so you're still paying for shipping either way.
Personally I'd rather give my business to anyone but Amazon even if I end up having to pay for shipping, depending on what I'm getting of course
thermal_shock@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 131d
Same. Last few purchases straight from actual stores, surf shop on West Coast, rockauto, wife's yoga pants. We're sick of Amazon.
Fmstrat@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 130d
These days, with shipping costs baked in (which honestly I am fine with, it means I know the total up front), I feel this way about free returns. I rarely ever return anything, because I do a lot of research before I spend money, but I still seem to want that safety net. No idea why, but I'm sure there's some research from product companies about it.